By Cecilia Chan | East Valley Tribune
A pitch to build 68 townhouses on infill property in an established neighborhood raised concerns by Mesa City Council over design and density.
Council on Feb. 24 could vote on The Lofts at 121, proposed on 3.14 acres near Main Street and north Beverly, or continue it to a later date.
“I’m concerned about the Lofts at 121,” Mayor Mark Freeman said at the Feb. 20 study session. “I’m just not really comfortable with this much density on the property and the architectural design.
“I just thought architecturally as I looked at it, it really doesn’t match the character of the neighborhood.”
Freeman noted that the neighborhood has been in existence since Mesa’s creation and although it lacks the designation, he considers it a historic neighborhood. He said there’s more work to be done on the project.
He also said that Mesa in the future will struggle with ensuring an infill development blends with the surrounding neighborhood.
Planner Evan Balmer said that city’s Design Review Board last month also voiced worries, including with the building design and the project’s integration with the neighborhood.
“The applicant has made several changes to maybe better protect the neighbors to the north by increasing the landscape buffer and additional landscaping there,” Balmer said. “There are still outstanding comments the applicant still needs to work through with regards to the building design itself.”
